Security staff at Labette Health and Parsons Police Officers thwart an attempted kidnapping.

 

Around 6pm on Tuesday evening, officers from the Parsons Police Department responded to a report from Labette Health of a possible kidnapping in progress at the facility. When officers arrived on the scene they learned from the security staff at the hospital that a male suspect identified as 31-year-old Eric Matthews had been prevented from leaving the hospital with a newborn baby who had not been discharged.

 

Officers reviewed video surveillance footage and interviewed multiple witnesses, confirming that Matthews had attempted to leave the O-B Ward with a one-day-old infant without authorization. According to reports, a family member of the child confronted Matthews before he could exit the ward, stopping him from taking the baby. Hospital security then stepped in and held Matthews at the scene until law enforcement arrived. The family reported that they knew Matthews and that the man had a history of drug use.

 

Matthews was taken into custody and transported to the Parsons Police Lock-up where he is currently being held. He faces charges of kidnapping and child endangerment.